Tianjin Summit — Pushing for a New World Order

Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese leader Xi Jinping, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met on Monday in Tianjin, China, for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. The SCO is a Eurasian security grouping consisting of ten member states and more than a dozen permanent dialogue partners, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey. While far from being a tightly knit military alliance like NATO, the SCO is led primarily by China and Russia. Under the SCO banner in Tianjin, over 20 world leaders gathered—from countries including Iran, Kazakhstan, Belarus, and Pakistan—to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory over Japan on 2 September, 1945, which brought World War II to an end. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is also expected to join the summit for China’s military parade commemorating the end of the war.

The stated aim of the summit—as voiced by President Xi in his opening address—is to oppose the ‘Cold War mentality, bloc confrontation, and bullying’. Similar sentiments were echoed by other attendees as well; President Putin, for instance, urged the SCO to revive ‘genuine multilateralism’, laying ‘the political and socioeconomic groundwork for the formation of a new system of stability and security in Eurasia’. As part of the bloc’s broader mission to emerge as an alternative to the US-led world order, President Xi also called for the creation of a new development bank that would offer billions in grants and loans to SCO member states.

In a show of friendship — and shared opposition to the US-led world order — Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin walked hand in hand at the start of the summit, where they were greeted by President Xi Jinping. Echoing the famous footage of President Trump and President Putin sharing a ride in The Beast, this time the Russian leader shared a drive with his Indian counterpart. Modi joined Putin in his now-iconic armoured limo, the Aurus. ‘Even in the most difficult situations, India and Russia have always walked shoulder to shoulder,’ Modi said later.

Undoubtedly, a key topic of discussion between the Eastern nuclear powers is President Putin’s recent bilateral meeting with President Trump. It is believed that Putin consulted with the Chinese leadership before flying to Alaska, while this week’s summit in China provides the three leaders an opportunity to discuss the situation in Ukraine in greater detail. ‘Russia cannot be allowed to lose the war against Ukraine,’ Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told EU High Representative Kaja Kallas earlier this month. Unlike Beijing, New Delhi has avoided taking such a sharp stance on the war—shortly after sharing a car ride with Putin, Prime Minister Modi called and held a brief conversation with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy.

After the invasion of Ukraine, both India and China emerged as crucial trade partners for sanctions-hit Russia. In 2024, China purchased more than 100 million tonnes of Russian crude oil—approximately 20 per cent of the country’s total energy imports. Like Beijing, India has also been importing large quantities of Russian energy since 2022. Together, the two countries now account for the majority of Russia’s energy exports. As a result, both Beijing and New Delhi have been accused in the West of fuelling the Kremlin’s war machine with cash.

Since Moscow relies on revenue from energy sales to continue the war in Ukraine, Washington—which seeks to end the conflict in Europe—strongly condemns India’s thirst for cheap Russian energy. Recently, the US administration introduced 25 per cent tariffs on Indian goods as punishment for purchasing Russian oil. The tariffs, which New Delhi views as ‘unjustified’, have not deterred the large South Asian country from continuing its trade with Moscow. In addition to India, the host of the talks—China—also has grievances against the American administration: since Trump’s inauguration, tariffs have reached as high as 145 per cent.

‘A gathering that brings together such populous and nuclear-armed powers on Chinese soil highlights Beijing’s ambition to claim its place as a leading global superpower’

The SCO Summit in China holds global significance for three main reasons. First, the business deals secured between Russia, India, and China strengthen their strategic alliance. On one hand, access to cheap Russian energy can boost growth in the Asian economies; on the other, these deals ensure continued cash flow for Moscow. Second, the summit serves as a powerful demonstration—contrary to Western narratives—that the Kremlin is far from isolated. Third, a gathering that brings together such populous and nuclear-armed powers on Chinese soil highlights Beijing’s ambition to claim its place as a leading global superpower.

While Brussels is absent from the forum, Hungary—eager to develop mutually beneficial economic ties with Asian countries, including China and India—has diplomats present at the summit in Tianjin. Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó landed in Beijing on Tuesday evening. The minister has meetings scheduled with Minister Wang Yi and representatives of Chinese companies over the coming days. Aside from the Hungarian foreign minister, the only other EU representative present is Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico. In short, while emerging Asian countries are organizing themselves and pushing back against the Western-led world order, the European Union is notably absent from the international stage—and in doing so, is steadily losing influence.

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